Combination seam and air blankets for ships



May 26, 1964 R. D. SMlTH COMBINATION SEAM AND AIR BLANKETS FOR SHIPSFiled June 24, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. F054??? .2 521722? May26, 1964 Filed June 24, 1963 R. D. SMITH COMBINATION SEAM AND AIRBLANKETS FOR SHIPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent l 3,134,354COMBINATION SEAM AND AIR BLANKETS FOR SHIPS Robert D. Smith, 2742 E.Tremont Ave., Bronx 61, N.Y. Filed June 24, 1963, Ser. No. 289,851 1Claim. (61. 114-68) This invention relates generally to ship emergencyflotation equipment. More specifically it relates to flotation equipmentfor ships as described in applicants patent application, Serial No.231,140, now Patent No. 3,118,- 412.

In the above cited application, means have been shown for maintaining avessel afloat in case the hull has suffered damage, these meansincluding a plurality of adjacent inflatable air blankets or air boatson the outer sides and bottom of the hull. In the above constructionshould the vessel sustain a hole in the hull at a position betweenadjacent air blankets, water will pass therebetween and pour into thehole which is undesirable. Accordingly, it is a principal object of thepresent invention to provide means whereby the space between the airblankets is sealed to prevent the passage of water therethrough.

Another object is to provide a seam blanket for sealing oil? the spacebetween air blankets which can be manually secured into operativeposition.

Still another object is to provide several unfoldable inflatable airblankets within the hull of a ship each of which in time of emergency isextended under the ceiling of each deck.

Other objects are to provide a combination seam and air blanket forships which is relatively simple in design, rugged in construction andeflicient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of thefollowing specification and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic plan view representing an assembled flotationdevice for a ship.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view through 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevation view of a ship incorporatingthe invention, shown partly in crosssection.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective cross sectional view oftwo adjacent air and seam blankets, and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view partly in crosssection of a modified form of air blankets and seam blankets.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the numeral 10 represents a seamand air blanket according to the present invention as shown in FIGURES 1to 5 wherein there is a vertically depending main body portion 11 ofgenerally rectangular cross section having a front wall 12, rear wall 13opposite side walls 14, top wall 15, bottom wall 16 which enclose acentral area divided into a plurality of compartments 17 by means ofpartitions 18.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the device conforms to the outer contour of Ihull19. An engine 20 on the upper deck 21 drives an air compressor 22 fromwhich a plurality of flexible tubes 23 extend; one of which leads toeach of the compartments 17. Valves 24 are provided to controlselectively the inflation or deflation of any compartment.

The side walls of adjacent air blankets abut each other, however, inorder to prevent passage of water there between toward the hull, a seamblanket portion 25 is provided at one corner of the main body, which isadjacent the hull. This portion overlaps a portion of the rear side ofthe adjacent air blanket.

In operative use, the air blanket is inflated causing the 3,134,354Patented May 26, 1964 seam blanket portion between the hull and mainbody of the adjacent air blanket to press against the rear wall of theadjacent air blanket thus sealing off any passage of water between theair blankets.

'Ilhe seam blanket portion may be divided into front and rearcompartments 26 and 27 by means of a partition 28 each of which isinflated by separate tubes. See FIGURE 3.

The air blankets are located all around the hull except at the rear toavoid the propellers, thus safeguarding practically all vulnerableplaces. A specially shaped air blanket 10A of angular configuration islocated around the bow 29 of ship 30. While the drawings illustrate airblankets which extend from the gunwa-le to the keel, it is understoodthat this invention is applicable to air blankets or air boats whichextend completely around the underside of the hull from starboardgunwale to port gunwale, as described in applicants application forpatent, Serial No. 267,111.

In FIGURE 6, a modified construction of (air and seam blanket 31 isshown wherein the air blanket 32 is a separate structure from seamblanket 33, the two being enjoined by a stitch 34 near one verticalcorner of the seam blanket.

In FIGURE 6 mechanism is shown whereby the air blankets are drawn fromalong topside down to the keel. This mechanism includes a plurality ofendless chains 35 which move around gears '36 located at topsides andnear the keel. The chains are located in vertically extendingcompartments 37 having openings 38 on the outer side 39 of the hull. Aslidable door 40 operated by chains 41 serves to close opening 38 whenthe air blanket is not in use thus preserving the smooth outer contourof the hull. Hooks 42 on the chain engage tabs 43 on the air blanketsthus drawing the blankets down.

It is to be noted that the searn blanket encloses the chains 3'5 betweenitself and the air blanket; the opposite vertical corner of the seamblanket having books 44 which are manually attached to rings 45 on theair blanket.

In a construction wherein the air blanket or air boat extends completelyaround the underside of the hull from port to starboard and wherein eachadjacent air boat is drawn down from opposite starboard or port sides,the seam blanket is hooked to the chain 35 instead of to tabs upon theadjacent air boat. Also adjacent sides of endiess chains servingadjacent air boats must move in the same direction as shown by arrows inFIGURE 6.

The internal air blankets 46 shown in FIGURE 3 rest in collapsedinoperative position on rails 47 below deck ceilings 48'. In time ofemergency valves 49 are opened causing air from compressor to passthrough pipe 50 to inflate the air blanket as shown. Thus, anout-of-the-way internal air blanket proved additional buoyancy in caseof internal 'hull flooding.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it isunderstood such changes will be in the spirit and scope as defined inthe appended claim.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

In a ship, the combination of a hull, flotation means along the outerside of said hull said flotation means comprising a plurality ofvertically extending inflatable air blankets, means for drawing said airblankets from topside of said hull downward to the underside of saidhull, each said air blanket being of generally rectangular transverseconfiguration having a front wall, rear wall, opposite side walls, topand bottom walls enclosing a central area divided into a plurality ofcompartments by means of partitions, said side Walls being in generalabutment with side walls of adjacent air blankets and means to preventmovement of sea water between said side walls of adjacent air blankets,said means to prevent movement of sea water between said side walls ofadjacent air blankets comprising a seam blanket aflixed to each one ofsaid air blankets, said seam blanket extending between said air blanketand said hull, said seam blanket being of generally rectangulartransverse configuration, having a front wall, rear Wall, opposite sidewalls, and top and bottom Walls enclosing a central inflatable area,said front wall of said seam blanket extending partly adjacent the rearwall of said air blan ket to which said seam blanket is affixed and theother part of said front Wall of said seam blanket being removablyadjacent the rear wall of an adjacent air blanket, said seam blanket ininflated position pressing against said rear walls of :said air blanketsReferences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,170,420 Crowley Feb. *1, 1916 1,224,678 Sons May 1, 1917 1,283,345Sova Oct. 29, 1918 2,105,014 Segel Jan. 11, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 15,036Great Britain 1895 19,974 Great Britain 1912 825,820 Germany Dec. 20,1951

